Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-11-07
8eligiuns department.
Growth.


The Lord SAYS, Il will keep him
in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
on me-" There are a great many
excellent people who often wonder
why they do not feel the ''peace"
the Lord has promised, forgetting
meanwhile, that their minds are
not ''stayed on Him." No need
have they to expect peace unless
they are resting on Divine strength,
peace does not come to drifting
souls, only to those rooted in Jesus
Christ. If firmly rooted there is
growth. SpurgeOn says, ''We have
the likenesses of our boys taken on
every birthday, and twelve of the
annual portraits are now framed IN
one picture, so that we see them at
a glance from their babyhood to
their youth. Suppose such photo
graphic memorials of our own spirit
ual life had been taken and preserved,
would there be n regular advance
as in these boys, or should we still
have been exhibited in the peram-
bulatOr? Have not some grown
awhile, and then suddenly dwarfed =:
Have not others gone back to baby
II fAr
Fiction" | hardly think there is
one who would hesitate to answer
these searching questions in the af-
firmative. If there is no growth in
the branch, there is neither blossom
nor fruit. but there certainly is sep
aration from the Vine.
Bowes says, 1.-The fruits Chris
tians bear are not in every case,
and at all times, the same. The
plant of prosperity stands in the
garden, and yields the rich fruit of
thankfulness, whilst adversely brings
forth sweet patience-suspense gen
tlv blossoms into hope-and service
gradually ripens happiness. But
every kind is beautiful in its season.
Some one in commenting upon
the art of planting grape vines iii
the laboratory, out of sight of the
passing observer, and applying chem
icals To their roots, which make the |
vines luXuriant, and the fruit pro
life in its season, remarks: ''The |
root is concealed, but the vines
climb out and the fruit spreads
itself before men. Emblem of the
Christian life. The Christian is
rooted and built up in Christ out
of sight of the worlds gaze, but his
fruit will reveal him."
"A certain man had fig tree
planted in his vineyard and he came
and sought fruit thereon, and found
none. Then said he unto the dress
er of the vineyard, "Behold, these
three years l come seeking fruit on
this flo tree, and find none; cut it
down why cumbereth it the ground:'
Oh, the infinite patience of the
Master Of the vineyard. Year after
year He comes looking for ripe
fruit and for golden sheaves, and
vet in many a professed workers @
hands He finds nothing but leaves.
Ryle says of this class, "Thev
grieve me TO the heart, they make
my blood run cold. For anything
that mans eyes can see they make
no progress. They never seem to
get on. Years roll on, and they are
just the same,-the same besettino
sins, the same infirmities of DISPOSE
ton. the same weakness in trial.
the same chilliness Of heart. the
same apathy, the same faint rescm-
blance to Christ-but no new knowl
edge, no increased interest in the
kingdom, no new strength, no new
fruits, as if they grew. Are they
not forgetting that growth is a proof
of life-that even the view tree grows,
and the snail and the sloth move:
Are they not forgetting how awfully
far man may 90, and yet not be a
true Christian: He may be like a
wax-work figure, the very image of
a believer and yet not within him
the breath of God"
Karamsin, the Russian traveller,
having observed Lavater's diligence
in study, visiting the sick and re-
lieving the poor, and greatly surpris-
ed at his activity, said to him:
whence have you so much
strength of mind and power of en-
durance?"
''My friend" replied he, ''man
rarely wants the power to work
when he possesses the will; the
more labor in the discharge of my
duties, so much the more ability and
inclination to labor do / constantly
find within myself
Our wills must be submerged in
the will of our Lord and Master to
make Us faithful workers i'll the
great vineyard, it will retard our
growth to forget that fact for even
one Christian at Work.
A Good Name.